-- Chapter Four: Ghosts of the Past
"Jack, could you and Doctor Jackson come in this afternoon? Something has come up that I think you'll want to know about."
"General, we had plans ..."
"Jack, I think it's in your best interests to change those plans. 1300 hours."
Jack was surprised to hear the click of the phone, and the Major General's tone concerned him. It had been deep and coarse, sharp even, and he had sounded tense and angry about something. Jack walked outside where Daniel had the triplets atop a large blanket. Bijou and Katie were playing with their new "siblings" and all were enjoying themselves, especially Little Danny who looked like he was playing peekaboo with Katie, and Aislinn who was having a good time with Bijou's floppy ears.
"Danny, that was General Hammond."
"And ...?"
"And he wants to see us this afternoon. In fact, he more or less insisted."
"He didn't tell you why?"
"No, but I have a bad feeling."
"What about the Munchkins?"
"I'll call Sara and see if she can watch them for a couple of hours."
"Thank you for coming, Jack," General Hammond said as he reached out to shake Jack's hand, and then did the same with Daniel's.
As the couple entered Hammond's office, Daniel's focus immediately went to the stranger in the room. He was standing almost at attention, but wearing a business suit, not a uniform. The man was one or two inches taller than Jack, well built, and had a stern expression on his face. He had an air of arrogance and superiority about him.
Jack noticed the man as well, his own internal alarms going off.
"I'm not going to like this, am I, General?" Jack asked as he moved forward towards the man, locking eyes in what became a stare down. The problem was ... the man hadn't blinked.
"Jack," Daniel said softly, "Why don't we just find out why we're here?" He didn't want to look away, but he knew Daniel was right. They had things to do, places to go ... babies to adore. He didn't need to waste his time on whoever this man was.
"General O'Neill, this is Arthur Cummings. He's conducting reviews of past missions."
"Of the SGC?"
"No."
Daniel felt unnerved by the stranger, who seemed content to let General Hammond explain his presence. In fact, Daniel felt like Jack was being studied. The man hadn't said a word, but already Daniel didn't like him, and for the archaeologist, that kind of quick judgment was unusual.
The General moved to stand by his chair. He picked up a thick file from his desk. In fact, the file rested upon several other files, all fairly bulky.
"Under the direction of Internal Affairs, Mister Cummings is acting as a sort of special prosecutor, independent of the Air Force. He's," the General hesitated, looking over at the still motionless man, "checking into certain past activities that some believe might be ... questionable."
"What activities?"
General Hammond handed the folder to Jack. He looked at it and noticed his name was on it. As he thumbed through it, Jack grew pale, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Daniel, who stood along the edge of the wall, near the doorway, his arms folded tightly across his chest.
Daniel's initial instinct had been to move close to Jack. His gut told him that his lover needed protecting; and yet, something else told Daniel he also needed to be an observer, to get the big picture, so he stood back, carefully watching the man standing so securely beside Hammond's desk.
"What's this about?" Jack asked Cummings directly.
"I believe General Hammond has told you."
"I'm asking you. What are you after?"
"You, General. The people who have requested this inquiry have an interest in your future."
"I'm retired."
"That may be, but perhaps, General, that's not the issue. The people I represent are concerned that your past actions were outside the scope of your orders. Pressure is being applied to bring certain ... personnel to account."
Jack looked at Daniel for a moment, then said, "Okay, that's enough. I'm out of here."
He signaled to Daniel and started to walk to the door.
"You can answer the questions here, General, or in a more public setting. The choice is yours."
"Who do you think you're trying to kid, Cummings?" Jack had spoken as he turned around, and then he walked back towards the man in the black suit. "The stuff in these files is classified. The government doesn't want this out there."
"If you went against orders, General, the government isn't at risk now, is it?"
Jack smirked, "You do what you have to, but you'll do it without me!"
Jack again turned around and walked towards the door.
"I'm sure that three-year-old girl you shot in the head would like to opportunity to walk out, too. Of course, she'd probably just like to be able to breathe."
Jack's hand froze on the doorknob. He looked down at the knob for a moment, and then risked a glanced at Daniel whose breathing had become heavier. Jack again turned around, his face stone cold.
"Careful with your accusations, Cummings."
"I don't think it's an accusation. You have a history, General; a very colorful, dark history, and it's loaded with moments of you going out on your own, disobeying orders. Why should I think this incident was different? What could you possibly say that would excuse you murdering a child?"
"Why you ..." Jack lunged at the man, shoving him backwards several feet until he was against the wall. He held the man's jacket tight and jerked the man's body again for emphasis. "I don't have to explain squat to you."
"Tanisha was her name, wasn't it, General? She had a baby sister and an older brother ... and you killed her."
"I'll ..."
"JACK!" Daniel moved forward, his hand on Jack's forearm. "Don't."
The man smirked, "Aren't you proving my point, General O'Neill? You have a temper. I'm going to nail you to the wall for that little girl's death if I have to travel the world over a hundred times interviewing people. You're going to pay!"
Daniel knew Jack's anger was on the verge of making him do something rash, so he tugged a bit on his husband's arm.
"Jack."
Jack released the man and backed away a few feet.
"What do you really want?"
The man smiled smugly. He cocked his head arrogantly as he answered the question.
"People just want justice, General. Of course, if you were back on active duty, the Air Force would have more interest in ... protecting you."
"I don't need protecting."
"That little girl did. What did it feel like, General, to pull that trigger and watch the life drain from her body?"
Jack's rage took over. He shouted angrily, "You smug, ignorant, self-righteous little ..." and then needing something more than words, Jack slugged the man and ran out of the office.
"I'll have his hide for that," Cummings said as he got up off the floor.
"You're lucky he didn't kill you," Daniel spoke sharply. "Whatever it is you want, forget it. Whomever has put you up to this, you can tell them they've wasted their time. And," Daniel walked up to within inches of the man, "if you ever threaten my family again, you'll have to deal with me."
"I'm trembling, Doctor Jackson."
"You should be. You have no idea what I'm capable of. And it's Jackson-O'Neill. If you speak to me, you can freakin' well get my name right."
The man raised his chin with an callous smirk and straightened his jacket. He looked over at Hammond who wished he could toss the man out on his ear, but at the moment, his own orders forbade it.
"If General O'Neill ..."
"Jackson-O'Neill," Daniel corrected.
"If General O'Neill," the man continued, "doesn't return to duty, this investigation will proceed, and the murder of that little girl ..."
"Yadda, yadda, yadda," Daniel spoke in his best 'Jack' voice. "Tell it to someone who isn't bored stiff by your pointless fairytales."
Daniel turned and with a nod to Hammond exited the office. He wasn't sure where Jack went, but he knew he needed to find him, and quickly.
"Daniel!" Sam called out, seeing her friend. "What's wrong with the General?"
"Have you seen him, Sam?"
"He ran by me without saying a word. He took one of the shafts, Daniel. He must have headed topside."
"Thanks, Sam."
Daniel hurried towards the exit.
"Daniel!"
"I have to find him now, Sam. I'll talk to you later," Daniel spoke over his shoulder as he continued moving forward, taking the elevators to the top.
He walked outside, nodding to the Airman who stood guard at the door. "Have you seen General O'Neill?"
"He came out a few minutes ago, Sir. Headed that way," the Airman pointed to the west as he spoke.
Daniel figured Jack's knees had probably given out on him a little. More than likely, his lover had gone up a few floors in the shaft and then taken the elevator the rest of the way.
"Thank you."
It only took Daniel a couple of minutes to find his soulmate. Jack hadn't gotten very far before he had dropped to his knees in a combination of anger and despair.
Daniel went up behind Jack, knelt down to his own knees, and gently placed his arms around Jack's arms and chest.
"I have you, Love. You're safe."
"He had no right, Danny. No right."
"I love you, Jack."
"I don't want you to know. Things ... dark things ..."
"Jack, it's okay. You already told me ... a long time ago."
"Danny ... a little girl. How can you stand to touch me?"
"I love you. I won't let some moron twist the past."
"What do they want from me? I'm retired. Gawd, Danny, they're forcing people my age to retire. Why me? What's so special about me that they won't let me go?"
"You're the best," Daniel said as he continued to hold his love.
He rocked them gently as they knelt on the ground, and kept his arms secure around Jack. As much as he could, Daniel enveloped his husband with love and security.
"We have a family. A little girl, Danny. I had to ... how can you ..."
"Shhh, Jack. Don't let them confuse you. You're not the same person, the world isn't black and white, and what happened over there ..."
"Isn't this cozy?" Cummings said from a few feet away.
At the sound of the man's voice, Daniel's anger rose like a volcano erupting. He stood, walked to Cummings, and without saying a word, flipped the man onto his back, pulling his arms behind him. Daniel knelt down on the man's arms, successfully pinning him to the ground.
No one hurts my family ... no one. "You moronic imbecile. Listen to me. You have NO idea who you are dealing with here. I ... I am your worst nightmare. You leave us alone, or what Jack does to you will pale in comparison to what I'll do."
"Big words from the ..."
Daniel hit the man again, this time with sufficient force to knock the man out. An Airman heard the commotion and came running.
"Get him out of here ... NOW!" Daniel ordered in his best command voice. Daniel moved to return to Jack, except when he turned around, Jack was gone. "Jack? JACK?"
Daniel ran through the wooded area, finally finding Jack seated next to a tree. Jack's knees were drawn up a bit, and Jack was burying his head in his hands as they leaned against his knees. Daniel went to his husband, falling to his knees as he sat beside him. The younger man kissed Jack's temple as he put his arms around Jack's shoulder and pulled him in to lean next to him.
"Everything's okay, Jack. He won't bother us anymore."
"She was so pretty, Danny. Her eyes were so big ..."
Daniel listened, his heart aching as he did so. Jack's voice was about as vulnerable as Daniel had ever heard it. His lover was strong and brave, and if all else failed, sarcasm and wit could get Jack through most anything; yet, Jack O'Neill wasn't the same man he had been all those years before. Still, he had to keep that past life buried or the man he had become, the man he was now, might shrivel up and die from the reality of things he had been forced to do in the name of his country.
"... Pretty. She was pretty. Can't think about this, Danny. Box -- kept her in that box."
"Put her back in the box, Jack."
"Not sure I can," Jack's cracked voice spoke, tears falling from his brown eyes at the same time.
"Yes, you can, Love." Daniel knew he had to get this under control. Jack was depending on him. "Listen to me, Jack. Focus only on my voice. There's nothing else ... no one else."
Daniel spoke calmly, firmly, and slowly. He rocked Jack gently back and forth as he continued his words, rubbing against Jack's arm and neck with his hands in soothing caresses.
"Close your eyes, Jack. Keep them closed. Don't open them until I tell you." Daniel leaned his head against Jack's for a moment, taking a big breath as he did so. "Keep your eyes closed. Shut everything else out. We're in our nation of two. Just you and me, Love."
Daniel moved his head so he could place another kiss on Jack's temple. He pulled Jack in even closer to him. He leaned his chin against the side of Jack's forehead as he spoke. He made sure his words were spoken in a steady, hypnotic fashion.
"The box is there. It's big. The lid is open, but it's within your reach. You go to the box. Next to the box is the memory of the little girl. Don't think about the memory. It's not important, but it's there. It's just there. Reach out and take the memory in your hand. Don't feel it. You don't need to feel the emotion. Just hold it in your hand, and then put the memory into the box. Set it down. Make sure all the pieces of the memory are there." Daniel paused for a moment, then asked, "Did you put it in the box?"
Jack nodded, and his voice trembled as he spoke, "It's in the box. There are others."
Daniel could feel Jack tense even more, but he wouldn't let the nightmares win.
"No, listen. All the memories belong in the box. Make sure all of them, each and every one, are in that box. It's where they belong, buried in the box. Are they all there? Tell me when you've put them all back in the box."
It took a couple of minutes, but then Jack answered, "All there."
"Close the lid, Jack. Make sure it's tight. Lock it. Use the key. Turn it. Is it locked?"
"Locked."
"Take the key, Love, and throw it away. Throw it as far as you can. Now turn around, and walk away from the box. Keep walking. The box is shrinking with every step you take. Keep walking. The memory is gone. It's in the box ... the locked box that you threw away the key to. All you hear now is my voice. Follow my voice to our nation of two. I love you, Jack. Love you so much."
Daniel continued his words of love and encouragement when he heard a noise.
"Jack, I'll be right back. Please don't move. I love you."
Daniel got up and followed the noise, finding an Airman searching for Jack.
"Doctor Jackson, General Hammond would like you and General O'Neill to accompany me to his office."
"Tell the General we'll be right there."
"Sir, I was ordered to ..."
"I DON'T FREAKIN' CARE ABOUT YOUR ORDERS. I'M GIVING YOU AN ORDER." Daniel took a calming breath and lowered his voice when he continued. "Tell General Hammond we'll be there shortly."
"But, Sir ..."
"I GAVE YOU AN ORDER, AIRMAN. MOVE IT!"
The Airman blinked. It was true. Daniel's civilian rank was equal to Jack's military rank, even if he wasn't working at the SGC anymore.
"YES, SIR!" the Airman said, saluting, turning around, and heading quickly back to the confinement of the SGC. I don't care if the females on the base think he's dreamy; sometimes Doctor Jackson is scarier than the Goa'uld.
"Giving orders, Danny? That's not like you."
Jack stood a few feet behind Daniel. The archaeologist turned and walked over to his husband. He reached up with his hands to caress Jack's cheeks and neck.
"I will do whatever I have to do, whenever I have to do it, to protect my family." Daniel pulled Jack into his arms, putting his right hand to the back of Jack's head, holding it to him gently. "No one hurts you. You've told me that a thousand times when you've taken care of me, and now I'm telling you ... no one hurts you ... no one!"
"Love you, Danny," the unusually vulnerable Jack whispered as he let Daniel take care of him. "I'm okay now."
"Did you throw that key far away?"
"As far as I could," Jack answered when he pulled back to look into Daniel's eyes. "I can't think about that stuff anymore, Danny. It'll kill me."
"Then don't think about it. It's over and done with. I don't want you to ever remember those days. We have a home and a family, and that's our here and now. You understand me, Jackson-O'Neill?"
"Understood ... Sir."
The two leaned their foreheads together, a symbolic gesture of their eternal love and bond. They needed this moment to reconnect and reaffirm that no matter what, as long as they had each other, they'd get through anything.
Finally, Daniel said, "We'd better go see what General Hammond needs."
"I don't know who is behind it, but my orders are to cooperate with him, Jack."
"And who gave you those orders?"
"General Armstrong."
Jack shook his head. This was a nightmare, one he didn't need right now when he was finally living his dream with Daniel and their three babies.
"General, we're retired, and we're staying that way. You tell those idiots at the Pentagon that if they let their puppet go after me, they'll regret it. I can play hard ball, and if they don't stop this, they'd better be prepared for the fallout from letting that moron harass me."
"I'll see what I can do, Jack. Something about this seems off," Hammond said, sighing as he sat behind his desk. "I can smell it."
"Fish?" Jack tried to tease.
Hammond tried to smile in kind, then said, "I'll let you know if I find out anything. In the meantime, Mister Cummings would like you two back here at 1000 hours tomorrow."
"You can tell him to ..."
"Jack," Daniel silenced his husband, then addressed Hammond. "Tell him we'll be here ... when WE decide to be here," Daniel said, a smile on his face. "Come on, Jack. We have a few ... calls to make."
"Danny, if I make one more phone call, my ear is going to fall off," Jack spoke as he entered the den where Daniel had just gotten off the phone himself.
"I know, but we have more friends than enemies, Jack. If we can get them to hop off the fence, then we have a chance to stop this before it escalates."
"There has to be more to this. I have a hard time believing someone would go to all this trouble just to get us to go back to the SGC. Why?"
"I don't know, but that seems to be what Cummings wants."
"They could just ask."
Daniel laughed, tossing the pen he had been holding onto his desk.
"They have, Jack. We say 'no' all the time except for a handful of times when the missions were ..." Daniel shrugged.
"... Picnics? A walk in the park? A piece of cake?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Okay. You've got that look. What are you thinking?"
"I'm wondering if this is tied in to that mess that happened a couple of years ago," Daniel pondered.
"We got them. All of them. Didn't we? Tell me we got them all."
"I don't know, Jack. They wanted you for something, and they were willing to go through me to get you if they had to. We were surprised at how high up that went, and who was involved. Maybe it's like the NID ... more factions are still out there."
"I don't even want to think about that as being a possibility, Daniel."
"Me, either, but I don't think we can rule it out if they keep up the pressure on us."
Jack walked over to Daniel, pulled him up, and kissed him soundly.
"Wow!" Daniel responded happily. "Not complaining, but what was that for?"
"Because I love you!"
"I love you, too!"
The next day, at 1000 hours, Jack smiled as he picked up two of his children, Jonny and Aislinn, and headed outside. Daniel followed with their middle child. It was family time in the backyard, and they had a large blanket spread out in the middle of the lawn. They'd picked this time specifically. They would go to the SGC ... in the afternoon ... at a time of their choosing.
At roughly 11 a.m., or 1100 hours to those who cared about military time, Daniel went inside the house to get a new bottle for Aislinn. Hers had fallen to the ground, and Katie had decided to drink from it. It had made quite a sight and had the couple laughing.
While he was in the house, Sam phoned. They talked for a couple of minutes, and Daniel told her that he and Jack would drop by and see her at the SGC that afternoon if they had a chance. Just as he was about to head back outside, he heard a knock on the door.
"You're not welcome here," Daniel told Arthur Cummings as he stood at the door, two Airmen behind him.
"Isn't that too bad?" the man began to push by Daniel, totally unaware of Daniel's combat skills.
In a split second, Daniel had the man pinned to the ground yet again, and outside of his house. The two Airmen looked on in shock. Daniel took note that neither seemed inclined to come to Cummings aid.
"No one comes inside our house without our permission, and you do not have our permission."
Daniel stood up, his eyes full of rage. Getting up, Cummings was undeterred. He brushed himself off, and then picked up the file that had fallen from his hands after Daniel had gotten the best of him.
"Read this, Doctor Jackson. It contains details. Lots of details about your precious ... husband," Cummings spoke with disdain. "I want to hear you, the great believer in humanity, defend him after you've read this."
Cummings shoved the papers in Daniel's hands and turned around. He stopped only long enough to say, "And I do expect you to be in General Hammond's office before the day is through."
Daniel locked the front door and carried the papers into the living room. He held them as he looked out, peering through the patio door. Jack was on all fours, his nose nuzzled into Jonny who was laughing, his little arms and legs thrashing about. Then Jack picked up Little Danny, tossing him just a fraction into the air, but Daniel noticed that Jack's fingers were never off the baby's skin. Little Danny laughed at the action.
Jack put his middle son down, and Katie walked up to the infant and kissed him. Daniel watched as Jack ran his hand across the youngest beagle's ears, and then he swung his arm around his back and picked up Bijou.
"Got ya!" Daniel heard Jack exclaim as he turned the mama beagle over on her back and rubbed her tummy.
Then, with Katie at Little Danny's side and Bijou making sure Jonny wasn't getting into trouble, as he so often tried to do, Jack picked up their precious Aislinn, their inspiration and symbol of the magic of their relationship. She had been so tiny when she was born, but she had made up for it quickly.
Jack held her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead. Daniel listened as Jack began to sing a lullaby. He saw Aislinn reach up for Jack's mouth, and since she couldn't reach far enough, Jack leaned down so she could touch his lips.
Daniel watched as Jack continued to sing to his daughter, and then he reached over and gently rubbed Jonny's feet, singing to him. Next, Jack looked to Little Danny, rubbing his stomach in calming circles as he sang the sweet tune.
Amazingly, in the three minutes that Daniel watched, all three babies had fallen asleep, and Bijou and Katie were both resting, though Daniel could tell they were on alert as they always were when the babies were not in their crib.
Daniel looked down at the papers he held. "The Case of Tanisha Christopolus" stood out in large bold lettering. With one more look at Jack, Daniel went to the fireplace and took a matchstick from its container. After lighting the match, he held it to the folder and watched as it caught fire.
He stared coldly at the flames as the edge of the papers began to crumble, the fire edging its way along the folder. Daniel then placed the burning file onto the grating and watched as the papers were reduced to ash.
"I don't need to read anything that's here," Daniel spoke to no one. "The man who did this, who lived through this period of time, doesn't exist anymore, and nothing anyone says will ever make me believe he ever really did."
"Danny?" Jack stood at the doorway, one eye on Daniel, one on the sleeping babies. "I got worried, Love. What's that?"
Daniel smiled as he walked to Jack. He was full of confidence as he answered, "Just trash. Nothing but garbage."
Daniel allowed himself a quick kiss before taking Jack's hand and leading him back outside to bring their children inside.
After the triplets were settled in the nursery with Katie snuggled up next to them, a check of the baby monitors done, and Bijou in her usual "on guard" spot on the three-quarter-size bed that was against the nursery wall, Jack and Daniel went back downstairs where Daniel told Jack about Cummings' surprise visit.
"You didn't read it?"
"Why read garbage? Jack, I think we need to arrange for a trump card, just in case our friends don't come through like we hope they will."
"Thor?"
"I hate to use him unless we have to."
"Gotta love the little guy, Danny. You know he'd do just about anything for us."
"I know, but we can't make Cummings disappear. We just need to make sure he takes back the message that your military history isn't to be used as some sort of tool. It's nothing but fiction in those folders anyway."
"No, Danny, the stuff I did ..."
"No. Jack, do you really believe the U.S. government would allow anything even close to the truth to get out? That they would open themselves up to that kind of scrutiny? I mean, they have to know we have some powerful friends."
"You think those files are rigged?"
"I think they are phonier than that toupee Woolsey wore at that banquet we had to suffer through last month."
Jack chuckled, remembering how funny it had looked. The banquet had been in honor of a Pentagon official who was retiring so they had gone, each noticing how strangely the hairpiece looked on Woolsey.
"Geez, I love you!" Jack exclaimed happily. The two kissed, and then Jack asked, "So, do you have something in mind?"
"I'm not sure. Let me think about it for a little while."
"Okay," Jack agreed as the two snuggled on the sofa, Jack thinking about how lucky he was to have Daniel, and Daniel thinking of alternative ways of getting Cummings off their backs.
Jack and Daniel returned to the SGC around mid-afternoon, leaving their triplets in Sara's care once again. They walked confidently into General Hammond's office. Their unexpected sense of self-assurance made Cummings feel off-guard. Daniel noticed the man's discomfort and smiled.
Before Cummings could speak, Daniel began the negotiation.
"I told you that you had no idea who you are dealing with or what we're capable of, so I'm going to give you a brief demonstration. Don't worry, I'll go slow so you can keep up!"
The man raised his head up a tad. He was angry and about to argue when Daniel simply held up a finger to stop him and continued his statements.
"You want to release those records," Daniel pointed at the files that were still on Hammond's desk, "then you go right ahead. In fact, we've decided to help you. You see, you're right. The public has a right to know."
Hammond hid his smile and sat down in his chair, clasping his hands in front of him as he watched.
This is going to be fun, the Major General thought silently, knowing his friends had come up with a solution.
"I've prepared some press releases. I thought you might like to see them," Daniel spoke as he moved forward and handed several pieces of paper to Cummings. "As you can see," Daniel turned and walked back towards Jack, "we've outlined the basic events of the years in question. You'll notice a few key names there that might be of interest," Daniel smirked.
"No one important, though," Jack chirped, "just riffraff: a few generals, a couple of colonels. Oh, and you'll see the current head of the Department of Defense there, and some senators. You know, the usual ... riffraff."
"You can't release this," Cummings argued. "It's full of lies."
"Actually, it's darn close to the truth, more so than that fiction you have there," Jack nodded at the files.
"And the beauty of it is," Daniel leaned against the wall, folding his arms, "there's nothing you can do about it. If you dispute it, you have to acknowledge the truth. If you say nothing, then your blackmail, and make no mistake, blackmail is the appropriate word here, is pointless. Game over."
"You're a cocky son-of-a ..."
"HEY! BACK OFF!" Jack moved to stand in front of Daniel as Cummings had rapidly approached his lover. "No one calls my husband names ... except for me, of course."
"Jack!"
Jack shrugged, moving away a few steps, but still keeping an eye on Cummings.
"We have other methods ..."
"Oh, I'm sure you do," Jack quipped.
"Did I say I was done?" Daniel looked at Jack.
"No, I don't think so, Love."
"I didn't, either. I have more to say, Jack."
"I thought you did. It was so rude of him to interrupt."
"Yes, it was."
"WHAT THE ... WILL YOU TWO STOP THE FRICK AND FRACK SHOW, PLEASE?"
"Why, Daniel, I do believe Mister Cummings is losing his cool."
"My heart bleeds, Jack."
"WILL YOU GET ON WITH IT?"
"Sure, why not?" Daniel smiled, a cool, calculating one, as he moved closer to Cummings. "I've written a theory. Not a proof, mind you, just a ... theory. I plan to share it with a few thousand colleagues of mine. Oh, don't worry, nothing classified, but ideas, suggestions, possibilities. Now I realize I was laughed out of Academia once upon a time, but the world has changed, and this little paper has a bit more substance to it than my earlier one. Out there, someone is going to start asking questions. They'll do some research, and, with a nudge here and there, it won't be long until someone blows the roof off the Stargate program."
"It'll just be a little nudge. My Danny, he's good with words. One of his best skills is connecting the dots for people. He doesn't have to reveal a thing ... just point them to what is already out there and speculate."
Cummings was steaming, his face becoming flush. He threatened, "We can lock you away, General. It'll take years to get your constitutional rights argued in the courts."
"Yes, you could do that," Daniel said, "but what would be the point? You see, I'd see to it that my husband got a trial, and do you have any idea what would come out during that trial? Actually, I'm guessing you probably don't know, but I do, and the people who are ..."
"... pulling your strings ..." Jack interjected on Daniel's behalf.
"Thank you, Babe."
The lovers didn't normally use terms of endearment and nicknames in front of others, but they knew Cummings didn't approve of their relationship, and any time they addressed each other lovingly, they could practically see the man jumping out of his skin.
"Any time."
"... and the people who are pulling your strings, they do know. Believe me, they don't want anyone connecting the dots."
"Long story short, Cummings," Jack said as he walked into the man's personal space, "Daniel's paper and the press releases go out in the morning. And that's not all. We have contacts. Lots and lots of contacts. This government is about to be besieged with requests for information, demands from foreign governments to have cultural items that are here in the good ole USA on loan returned, and ..."
"And," Daniel moved to stand side by side with his spouse, "if you do have Jack arrested, I'll make such a fuss that no one will know what's happening. What you are accusing him of could be considered international in scope. Just imagine what might happen if I make a few well placed phone calls to friends, or non-friends, whichever the case may be, in oh, say, Russia, the Middle East, or even Japan. It's amazing what country rivalry can do, and the folks in Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait ... I imagine they'll have a lot to think about, don't you?"
Cummings let out a noise, but said nothing. He stared at both Jack and Daniel, and then looked over at Hammond who was trying his best not to laugh.
"I'll ... relay your message. Excuse me," he said heading for the door.
"Mister Cummings? What about these?" Hammond called out, picking up the thick files with Jack's name on them.
Cummings looked at Jack and Daniel, then down at the ground and sighed.
"Burn them. They're just fiction anyway."
Cummings exited the office, leaving the three other men alone, all with pleased expressions on their faces. Hammond shook his head at what he had just witnessed.
"I knew you two would come up with something, but I never could have imagined this. That was brilliant."
"It was all Daniel's idea," Jack spoke with pride, his eyes speaking words of love as he gazed at his lover.
"I'll take care of these unless you ..."
"No," Daniel spoke up. "We'll do it."
"This was another brilliant idea of yours, Love," Jack said as he rubbed his hand against the smooth skin of Daniel's abdomen as they lay together in front of the fire.
"Those files make for good kindling."
Daniel smiled, his hand atop Jack's.
"I love you, Danny."
"I love you, too, Jack."
Jack gazed up at the stars. It was 2 a.m., and all the Jackson-O'Neills were resting peacefully, except for Jack. He closed his eyes, remembering the past forty-eight hours and the intrusion of his past on his present.
If it hadn't been for Daniel, Jack believed he would have gone insane, or he would have killed Cummings in Hammond's office. Instead, they'd received confirmation that the investigation, or rather the witch hunt that it was, would be terminated, and then, Jack and Daniel had made love in front of their fireplace before Little Danny woke up demanding attention.
Jack smiled, imagining the feel of his lover, but then, he felt the familiar brush against his shoulder and whispered, "Hey."
"Hey. Couldn't sleep?"
"No."
"It's over, Jack. We made our point."
"Yeah, but it took our leaning on the President pretty heavily, and to be honest, Danny, I'm not sure he wasn't part of it."
"Me, either. They want us back."
Jack sighed at the politics involved. He did love the Air Force, and working on the Stargate Program had been the experience of a lifetime, only it was in the past, and now Jack lived for the man he loved, and the children they were bringing up in the world.
"You don't want to go back, do you?"
"Are you kidding? Jack, we've got three babies and a fourth on the way. No, I don't want to go back. I love our life now."
Jack looked away, but he also reached out and took hold of Daniel's hand.
"I ... thought for a minute ..."
"But just for a minute, right?" Jack turned and saw the smile on Daniel's face, knowing Daniel was well aware of Jack's fear that Daniel would leave him over the incidents that filled his Special Ops life. "We can't escape our pasts, Jack, but we can sure fight for our future."
"I never told you about her. You ... lied."
"No, Love, I didn't lie. Our nightmares say a lot." Jack stared at his husband, whispering his name as he leaned his head against Daniel's. "I've known about her for years."
"How can you stand to look at me? I saw your eyes, Danny, when that idiot mentioned her."
"Jack, stop. Yes, I was angry and shocked, but that was because he had no right to talk to you like that. He doesn't know you. He has no clue who you are, or what you've been through; and he certainly doesn't understand that what happened was in another lifetime. You were following orders, Jack, and what you did, saved an entire city. You didn't have a choice."
Daniel sighed as he paused. He loved Jack so much, and hated it when he was in pain like this.
"Jack, I love you, and I'm just so sorry that you had to relive that nightmare again," Daniel said softly as he leaned forward to kiss his husband tenderly.
"Hey, you do great giving orders!" Jack grinned, deciding it was time to move on.
"I learned from the best -- the loudest, most gregarious person I know."
"Thank you, Love."
The two spent the next hour enjoying the night air, and then went back to bed. The ghosts of the past had once again been excised from their present, but still, it had been a close call, so now, each held possessively onto the other as they slept, knowing their soulmate would always keep them safe in their eternal nation of two.
On to Chapter Five ...
